tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Infect Dis
. 2026 Nov 4:109220.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.109220. Online ahead of print.
Lone Simonsen 1 , Tyra Grove Krause 2 , Anders Gorm Pedersen 3 , Lars E Larsen 4 , Marlies Jilles Francine Goedknegt 5 , Ramona Trebbien 6 , Olav Hungnes 7 , Preben Aavitsland 7 , Otto Helve 8 , Richard J Webby 9 , Marc-Alain Widdowson 10 , Bolette Søborg 6 , Marion Koopmans 11 , Eskild Petersen 5
Affiliations Expand
H5N1 influenza clade 2.3.4.4b has spread from South East Asia through migratory birds since 2020. The expansion seeded frequent spillovers into wild and domestic mammals including cattle in the United States. While the risk for humans not in direct contact with infected animals is low, the widespread presence and opportunities for evolution constitutes a pandemic threat. If sustained human-to-human transmission (H2H) would emerge, there is limited time to mount a public health response. Initially, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are needed until vaccines are available. Experience with H5N1 viruses since 1997 suggests that infections are seen mostly in people born after 1968, indicating that people under sixty may be at particular risk. Closely monitoring viral diversity and evolution in wild life, and at the human animal interface, using integrated One Health surveillance and genome-based selection of viruses for further characterization for instance receptor affinity of H5N1 to human receptors is mandatory.
. 2026 Nov 4:109220.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.109220. Online ahead of print.
The H5N1 avian influenza threat: a European Perspective on Research Gaps and State of Preparedness
Lone Simonsen 1 , Tyra Grove Krause 2 , Anders Gorm Pedersen 3 , Lars E Larsen 4 , Marlies Jilles Francine Goedknegt 5 , Ramona Trebbien 6 , Olav Hungnes 7 , Preben Aavitsland 7 , Otto Helve 8 , Richard J Webby 9 , Marc-Alain Widdowson 10 , Bolette Søborg 6 , Marion Koopmans 11 , Eskild Petersen 5
Affiliations Expand
- PMID: 42982269
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.109220
Abstract
H5N1 influenza clade 2.3.4.4b has spread from South East Asia through migratory birds since 2020. The expansion seeded frequent spillovers into wild and domestic mammals including cattle in the United States. While the risk for humans not in direct contact with infected animals is low, the widespread presence and opportunities for evolution constitutes a pandemic threat. If sustained human-to-human transmission (H2H) would emerge, there is limited time to mount a public health response. Initially, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are needed until vaccines are available. Experience with H5N1 viruses since 1997 suggests that infections are seen mostly in people born after 1968, indicating that people under sixty may be at particular risk. Closely monitoring viral diversity and evolution in wild life, and at the human animal interface, using integrated One Health surveillance and genome-based selection of viruses for further characterization for instance receptor affinity of H5N1 to human receptors is mandatory.